Madaba

Madaba

 

Madaba is a city in Jordan that is known for its numerous Byzantine-era mosaics, especially the map mosaic. In biblical times (mentioned, for example, in Joshua 13.9 EU), the city belonged to the Kingdom of Moab.

Later she came under the influence of the Nabataeans; around 106 AD it came to the province of Arabia petraea, which had been established under Emperor Trajan. In the first century AD. a magnificent colonnaded street was built by the Roman lords. Under the Byzantines, several richly decorated churches were built in Madaba, which was mentioned in 451 as a bishop's seat, and the mosaic floors of which survived the later destruction.

After the Persian conquest and a devastating earthquake in 749, the city was largely abandoned and sank into insignificance. Around 1890, a mosaic in the form of a map was discovered in the rubble during the construction of a new Greek Orthodox church. The mosaic map depicting Jerusalem and other ancient sites on both sides of the Jordan gave Madaba increasing tourist importance.

Today Madaba has about 80,000 inhabitants. The city is an important market place for the Bedouins in the area.

 

Travel Destinations in Madaba

On the ruins of a Byzantine church, construction of St. George's Church wikipediacommons began in 1884. A map came to light that was made around 550 AD from around 2 million mosaic stones. It originally measured 21 m by 6 m, today there are still areas of about 16 m by 5 m left. Practically all of the Holy Land can be seen on this map: it stretches from the Nile Delta in Egypt to southern Lebanon and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Arabian Desert. Cities are clearly recognizable and inscribed with Greek names, illustrations of people were partially destroyed during the Ummayad rule by moving or replacing small pieces of the mosaic.

You can take a look at this map in a slightly smaller format, but standing upright in a visitor-friendly way, to the right of St. George's Church.

 

Church of Saint John the Baptist at Bethany Beyond the Jordan

Church of Saint George

 

Iron Age Fortification Wall

Iron Age Fortification of Madaba are some of the oldest structure that were preserved since earliest years of Madaba. Although parts of the original structure was later quarried for stone for construction of other buildings, it is still an impressive military fortification.

 

Madaba Archaeological Park

Madaba Archeological Park is another term for the historic ancient part of Madaba. Here you can find private, public and religious buildings of the ancient people. Some of the structures were reduced to rubble, while others will impress with its intricate and rich details.

 

Church of Saint John the Baptist

 

History

The city founded by the Moabites is mentioned several times in the Bible (including Num 21.30 EU, Jos 13.9-16 EU). She belonged to Ruben. In the 1st century B.C. The city came under Nabataean rule, from 106 AD it was part of the Roman province of Arabia. In the 4th century the city was a bishop's seat, in 614 it was conquered by the Persians. In 746 an earthquake destroyed the city, which was then abandoned by the residents and became deserted. In 1880 it was resettled by Christians and ancient mosaics were found under the rubble. In 1897 there were still remains of 10 churches, but they were already integrated into residential buildings.

Large, well-preserved mosaics were uncovered in the town at the end of the 19th century during archaeological excavations led by the Olomouc scientist Alois Mutil. A map of Palestine is considered to be particularly important, followed by further mosaic images, which also contain Greek characters.

An archaeological park was built at the original site, followed by a museum in 1978, which also presents other archaeological finds. There is also an ethnological section in the museum.

 

Bible history

Madaba (in the Septuagint and in Flavius Medaba), other Hebrew. מידבא‎‎ (on the Mesha stone, מהדבא‎), was a city on Squirrel Hill in the Moabite Plateau. It originally belonged to the Moabites, but was later conquered by the Israelites and given to the tribe of Reuben (Numbers 21:30; Joshua 13:9, 16).

The Ammonites, defeated by King David's general Joab, took refuge here (1 Chronicles 19:7, 15). In the reign of Omri, the city again belonged to the Israelites, as the Moabite king Mesha complains in his monument. Later, Madaba was again conquered from the Israelites by the Moabites, Isaiah predicted her death (Is. 15:2).

In the Maccabean wars (166-142 BC), Jonathan the Hasmoneans attacked the mighty family of Yambri (Ambri or Iambri) here (1 Mac. 9:36). John Hyrcanus and Alexander I conquer Madaba; the son of the latter, Hyrcanus II, promises it to the Nabataean king Arete.

 

Getting there

By plane
Madaba is only about 20 km west of Queen Alia International Airport.

By train / by bus
Madaba Bus Station is a 30-minute bus or service taxi ride from the 7th Circle bus interchange in Amman.

In the street
The city is located on the King's Highway about 35 km south of Amman. It is about 70 km to Kerak in the south and about 20 km to the Dead Sea in the west.

 

Transport

Madaba is a tranquil city, you can definitely explore it on foot. The visitor center with toilet and bus parking is located in the city center.

 

Trips

Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo (‏جبل نيبو‎) . A few kilometers outside in the direction of the Dead Sea is Mount Nebo with a height of 802 m. On a clear day you have a wonderful view of the Dead Sea and the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley from here. A church was built in 393 on the spot where, according to the Bible, Moses was allowed to see the promised land, as described in Deuteronomy 34:1-5 EU. On the floor of her baptistery was found a mosaic with, among other things, hunting and shepherd scenes. The church is currently being cared for and restored by Franciscans. In 2000 she was visited by Pope John Paul II, a stone plaque and an olive tree planted by him commemorate the papal visit. Near the church is the sculpture as an image of the Copper Serpent as mentioned in Numbers 21:4-9 EU.

machaerus
mukawir
About 30 km south of Madaba is the biblical Machaerus, the fortress of Herod the Great. His son Herodes Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded here after Salome had demanded this (Mark 6:21-29 EU).

Umm Ar-Rasas
Umm Ar-Resas
or Umm Ar-Rasas is about 30 km southeast of Madaba. The floor mosaic of the Church of St. Stephen is from the ancient city with four churches, discovered only a few decades ago and of which little has been excavated. The mosaic created in 718 shows bird motifs as well as representations of 15 cities in the Holy Land. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A little south of it is the Wadi al-Mujib, an impressive canyon with a dam for drinking water supply at the bottom of the valley.